Permanent Retainers
- Click to schedule an appointment -
Over the years, orthodontic treatment has become commonplace in homes across the nation. More and more individuals are choosing treatments like braces or aligners to correct oral issues and craft stunning smiles. This treatment is step one, and step two is post-treatment care.
Post-treatment care, which often comes in the form of permanent retainers, is not an optional nicety. In many cases, it is critical to maintain all of the work that was done through braces or aligners.
When it comes to bonded retainers in Lehi, South Jordan, and Salt Lake City, patients choose Smile Ranch for our experience and effective results.
What are Permanent Retainers?
Permanent retainers, sometimes referred to as fixed or bonded retainers, are devices designed to maintain the alignment of a patient’s teeth after braces. Not to be confused with removable retainers, a permanent retainer is fixed behind the teeth and cannot be removed by the wearer. This ensures continued support, keeping the teeth from reverting to their original places.
Key Features of Permanent Retainers
- Metal Construction: Most permanent retainers feature a thin wire of nickel-titanium or stainless steel, which is attached to the back of the teeth.
- Bonding Cement: Orthodontists attach the wire to the teeth using a specialized dental cement. The bonding cement allows for a durable, more permanent connection between the teeth and wire.
- Retainer Placement: Most permanent retainers are placed on the lingual side (tongue side) of the teeth, keeping them largely out of sight when the wearer smiles or speaks. Depending on your needs, you might require a permanent bottom retainer, top retainer, or both.
- Ongoing Support: Permanent retainers provide continuous support to keep your teeth in alignment. For those who might struggle to be consistent in wearing a removable retainer, a more permanent option can be an ideal choice.
- Customization: Permanent bottom retainers or upper retainers are custom-fitted to the individual patient. Your orthodontist will carefully measure your mouth and teeth so that you can rest assured knowing you’re receiving the support you need to maintain your results and keep that killer smile.
What are the Benefits of Permanent Retainers?
- 24/7 Support: While removable retainers require the wearer to keep them in consistently, permanent retainers ease the pressure of having to remember to take them in and out. These permanent appliances work around the clock to keep your teeth where they should be.
- Convenience: Permanent retainers, which are fixed into place, won’t get lost if you take them out to eat. That means no digging through trash cans or chasing the garbage truck. And, you won’t need to remember to pack your retainer case when you head out on vacation, either. For most wearers, permanent retainers become virtually out-of-sight-out-of-mind.
- Discreet Design: Unlike removable retainers with wires that extend across the front of the teeth, removable retainers are attached to the back of the teeth, hiding them from view. Patients who prefer a more discreet aesthetic love the ability to conceal their retainer and go about their daily lives.
How Do I Know if a Permanent Retainer is Right for Me?
For patients who require permanent retainers in Salt Lake City, Lehi, or South Jordan, Smile Ranch is here to help. Your orthodontist will help you consider all of your post-treatment options and let you know what they recommend. We’ll help you evaluate several factors to determine if a permanent retainer is the best choice for you. These factors include:
- Post-Treatment Evaluation: Once you are near the end of your treatment, your orthodontist will set up a post-treatment check-up to discuss the next steps. We’ll look at the results you’ve achieved, check on your alignment, and decide whether or not a retainer will be required. Consult with your orthodontist for a comprehensive post-orthodontic assessment.
- Oral Hygiene: Permanent retainers require special care and cleaning practices, so you’ll need to determine whether or not you can commit to consistent hygiene practices. Your orthodontist will explain the care process and procedures during your evaluation.
- Lifestyle: For patients who have busy lifestyles and schedules, remembering to consistently wear a retainer can be difficult. If you think that might be you, a permanent retainer may be the best choice.
- Finances: Determine what you can afford to spend on post-treatment care, and check with your insurance provider to see what kind of coverage is available to you. Permanent retainers can be more expensive than their removable counterparts, but your insurance may cover a certain portion of your treatment. At Smile Ranch, our staff will go over the financial aspects of your options so that you can find a choice that fits your budget. A permanent retainer that won’t get lost or broken may prove to be the more economical choice in the end.
- Goals and Preferences: Talk to your orthodontist about the goals that you wish to achieve with your post-treatment care. It’s also important to let them know if you have aesthetic preferences. If you want a discreet option, your orthodontist will probably recommend a permanent retainer.
- Orthodontic History: Your case complexity and history of orthodontic treatment will determine whether or not your teeth could shift over time. With more severe cases of misalignment or other complex issues, your teeth will have a greater chance of reverting to their original positions. They will likely need a post-braces retainer to stay in place.
What Do I Need to be Aware of Before Getting a Permanent Retainer?
- Care and Hygiene: The convenience of not having to take your retainer in and out can be a big draw for patients who have a busy lifestyle. However, permanent retainers require careful care and maintenance. You’ll need to regularly clean around the wires where food tends to get trapped. In addition, your orthodontist may set up check-ins to make sure both the retainer and your teeth stay in tip-top shape.
- Comfort and Speech: Be aware that when you first get your permanent retainer, you may experience temporary discomfort and speech issues. This is what we call the “adjustment period,” which typically lasts for a few days. If comfort and speech issues persist, check in with your orthodontist.
- Cost: The cost of a permanent retainer after braces may or may not be included in your initial braces estimate (talk to your orthodontist about the price breakdown). If you’re worried about the additional expenses of post-treatment care, begin the conversation with your orthodontist as early as possible so that you can have an idea of what to expect. The quality of the materials and orthodontic care required for permanent retainers can drive up their price higher than removable retainers, so be sure to discuss your options and budget with your orthodontist.
- Maintenance and Repair: Permanent retainers are incredibly convenient in that they don’t need to be consistently taken in and out. However, lack of proper care can cause plaque buildup in and around the wires, which could lead to health issues. Although they are constructed with durable materials, permanent retainers are not invincible. The wires are still susceptible to damage and breakage, which will require a trip back to the orthodontist for immediate repair. Again, this is not likely, but it is possible.
Will I Always Have to Wear a Permanent Retainer?
While the word “permanent” implies that you may be stuck with a piece of metal in your mouth for life, that may not be the case. The following factors will determine just how permanent your permanent retainer will be:
- Result Stability: Your orthodontist will continue to evaluate how well your teeth are retaining their new positions. If they have refrained from shifting and have held their alignment, you may only need the retainer for a short time.
- Age: Younger patients whose jaws are still developing might experience movement following treatment completion. In this case, your orthodontist may recommend retainer wear for a longer period of time.
- History: The initial complexity of your case might have an effect on the need for post-treatment care. More complex cases will likely require a permanent retainer indefinitely.
- Response to Treatment: Your teeth might respond differently to treatment than another patient’s will. While many patients will experience lasting results, others might have a higher risk of relapse. Some of this may have to do with your habits. For example, if you tend to thrust your tongue or grind your teeth, your bite is likely to shift without help from a permanent retainer (or other type of retainer). Your orthodontist will monitor your response after treatment to see if your teeth are moving.
Ready to Explore Your Options? Call Smile Ranch Orthodontics
Smile Support Staff
With their extensive knowledge and friendly demeanor, our dedicated Orthodontic team ensures that every patient receives personalized attention and support throughout their orthodontic journey, making the path to a perfect smile as comfortable and smooth as possible. You can trust our exceptional orthodontic team to be your smile’s greatest advocates and partners in achieving the results you desire.
Smile Ranch Google Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stacy Olson
Three out of four kids have had braces through Smile Ranch in Lehi. They have been awesome to work with and have worked around our schedule. Thank you!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Michelle Williams
We have been using Dr Jensen for a year. It has been a great experience. He is very knowledgeable and takes time to explain to his clients. Great staff and program.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amelia Miyasaki
We love Smile Ranch! Dr. J is fantastic, and the office staff is outstanding! The office is super efficient (three patients in and we’ve never had an unreasonable wait) but we never feel like a number, everyone is so helpful and friendly.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Whitney Rasmussen
Dr. J did my braces a few years ago and I was so amazed with his work. I absolutely love my smile and have received so many compliments on my teeth. I send everyone I know to the smile ranch, including my own kids who have just started braces!! 😁 woo hoo! They also have the best staff and make it so fun. Fresh cookies and rewards for the kids to earn smile bucks that turn into gift cards👍 We love smile ranch!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Aubrie Haymore
We love Dr. J and all the staff! They are soooo kind and my sons bite has improved and we are so grateful! We love them and I’ll bring all my kids here!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rachel Gardner
I love Smile Ranch! I took my oldest daughter here over a year ago. Her teeth look great. Im now back with my 10 year old daughter and myself. Dr J is extremely good at what he does and his staff are amazing. The most welcoming, loving and positive energy. My daughter has anxiety and Dr J and his staff have been so great to talk with her and explain what they are doing. They have eased her worries. They stay on schedule, but you never feel they are rushing you out their door. They truly care about you as a person and take pride in a job well done. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Emily Chidester
I am on my fourth child having orthodontic treatment from Smile Ranch and couldn’t be happier. Initially I went to three other orthodontics for consults and felt that Dr. Alan Jensen was the only orthodontist with the experienced needed to care for my one of my child’s treatment. We have had traditional braces, expanders, and Invisalign. The care we receive from the doctor and staff each time we visit is wonderful. I know that my children are getting the best smiles thanks to the care at Smile Ranch.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amy Sackett
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Robyn Green
We love Smile Ranch! We’ve had nothing but positive experiences and everyone there is amazing and friendly. It feels like a second home, so comfortable and welcoming.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Betsy Broadwater
I love this office! Dr. Jensen and staff make it so easy! They’re so kind to my family and they do a great job. They’re super easy to schedule with. They have a fun office atmosphere and I love taking my boys in. They know what they are doing and they do it well. They give us (all of us!) cookies after every appointment, the office is nice and clean and we are going to miss coming in here now that boys are getting braces off! … and most importantly, my boys’ teeth look fabulous!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Julie Johnson
Happy, clean atmosphere with friendly staff. We appreciate the care and attention they give. We have been very impressed with Dr. Jensen and the hygienists and their expertise. We have been very happy with the results so far!
